CITIZENS OPPOSED TO ROSEMONT COPPER MINE DISCOVER DANGEROUS FLAWS IN FOREST SERVICE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
February 1, 2012
Contact:
Frances Causey
520-990-8172
(Tucson, AZ)– A coalition of individuals and organizations opposed to the Rosemont copper mine and led by Save the Scenic Santa Ritas filed their final DEIS comments—over 1,000 pages long– harshly critiquing the Forest Service for the agency’s review of the impacts of the proposed open-pit copper mine.
Fifty-six (56) citizen and expert contributors including engineers, physicians, archeologists, biologists, economists, mining geologists, and ranchers joined together to analyze both the conclusions and methods of the DEIS.
The contributors, attached in Appendix G, spent over 18 months researching their findings that include the following:
In a “worst case” scenario, the mine could cause a drop in ground water level up to 980 feet in the Sonoita area and 660 feet in the Elgin area. (See Appendix D in Comments- “Statement of Concern – Ground Water Resources in the Sonoita Plain)
The DEIS systematically understates the impact of the Rosemont mine on the visitor economy which can have negative economic impacts over time that are larger than the positive economic impacts associated with the proposed mine. (See Appendix D “The Failure of the Rosemont Mine DEIS to Adequately Analyze the Socioeconomic Impacts of the Proposed Mine)
Solely due to increased mine traffic, 20 to 40 people will die in accidents on Scenic Highway 83 over the proposed 20-year life of the mine.
The DEIS failed to analyze health hazards caused by the mine, including an increased risk of Valley Fever and exposure to hazardous lead, arsenic and other toxic air pollutants including chromium, nickel, cadmium, fluorine, selenium, and manganese. The Forest Service did not adequately assess the effects of these dangerous chemicals on humans and animals.
To download the comments go to: http://www.scenicsantaritas.org/deis-comments
A CD of the comments is available upon request.
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